Unethical Billing, Aggressive Manager, and Hidden $140 Fees. AVOID. My experience was a nightmare due to non-transparent pricing and aggressively poor management. The initial scheduling call was confusing, and upon arrival, I was rushed to sign waivers with no visible price list. I was there for a simple annual exam with a $10 co-pay, which I confirmed with the staff. After the exam (where the doctor and technician were excellent), the manager demanded $150, claiming a mandatory $140 contact lens fitting fee. This fee was never disclosed, nor was I informed my specific contacts would void my insurance coverage. Eventually it was uncovered that the fee was only there because the particular brand THAT I WALKED IN WITH was a level 2 which was never disclosed. I did not even need a prescription for contacts so this was all hilarious When I requested an itemized bill, the manager was incredibly argumentative, claiming, "we don't do bills," and demanding immediate payment. After demanding to involve the doctor, the manager reluctantly accepted the $10 co-pay but retracted my contact lens prescription and trial lenses (which hilariously I had just signed a document required by illinois law stating that I had received contact lens prescriptions). This is a complete bait-and-switch operation driven by incompetent staff. Save yourself the headache and the surprise bill--avoid this establishment entirely. I hope the technician and eye doctor find employment elsewhere as they were lovely. Please retrain all your non medical staff immediately. read more

In an emergency situation this place came through for me. I didn't notice my glasses were crooked until this morning & I needed them today. Not only did this place repair them but also cleaned them & did I mention that the beautiful young lady didn't charge me a single dime. Customer service of this magnitude is rare. read more

Evanston Eye Wellness - Sunglasses repair - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I really liked Dr. Patel and the entire staff quite a bit. Dr. Patel was thorough, kind, and very clear when going over the results of my exam. She offered me a few different ways to approach getting glasses that worked best with my lifestyle and did it all with good humor. The facilities were also bright and clean. Will definitely be back. read more

Dr LaBrosse is absolutely terrific. She was very helpful; gave me information and helped me sign up for vision insurance. Walked thru all sorts of scenarios. Showed me different glasses and was patient, professional and didn't try up-selling to make me get more expensive frames. I would recommend her to anyone. She was ok with me waiting to make up my mind. Just a pleasure to work with. read more

I spent A LOT of money here, buying two pairs of glasses. I paid for ultra thin lenses and the lenses are too thick! I relied on staff to choose suitable and attractive frames because I have very poor eyesight. The frames are horrible. They are ugly and too large for my face. I'm sick. I feel like a fool for relying on this business. Go elsewhere. read more

Before making an appointment, I was very upfront about an end date of my vision plan by when I'd have to use up my vision insurance before its last day. I added that I was going for a new pair of lenses and a new frame. Otherwise, I also mentioned that, I'd have to use another optician. They gave me an appointment after the end date of my vision plan and assured me that the office could still schedule me an appointment after the end date and apply the grace period. I asked if having a receipt with a date after the last date of my vision insurance would be okay, and I got a quick and cheerful response that it would not be a problem. I made a fatal decision of going with that cheerful and assuring response. Guess what! Six months later, when I gathered my acts together to get a new pair of prescribed sunglasses, I reviewed my vision insurance plan to estimate my HRA spending before visiting an optician. I realized that this office had failed to apply my purchase to the promised grace period, and, without my permission, had used a new year's vision plan, forfeiting me hundreds of dollars from the previous year's vision insurance that I had specifically asked the office to use. When I contacted the office about this huge mistake of not processing my insurance paper work with the promised grace period, more than a week later, I only got another cheerful response, acknowledging that their staff member made a mistake, wishing me to stay safe and addressing no compensation plan after forfeiting my entire year worth of vision plan that would have saved me at least $700 or more. The office responded to me that they made an "honest mistake" and nothing could be done. In looking back, my new pair of glasses also arrived later than the promised time because, according to the office's explanation, my low-prescription lenses were not apparently processed as ordered. They wanted to assure the quality of lenses so had to send them back to the lab. Thus, I allowed another extra week or so without any fuss and patiently waited until I got my pair of glasses. I will not return. No matter how good the optician may be, making a claims mistake and neglecting a patient's entire one-year worth of vision insurance are truly unprofessional and dishonest. You can't call this as a honest mistake and get away. Truly bad way to run a business. It's eventually the optician/doctor(the business owner)'s responsibility to train their staff to properly inform patients about the claims process before closing every transaction. I felt that I was duped by this office after getting my second pair there. And, it was me who found out what happened with my insurance only months later by carefully going through my vision insurance detail. In the end, I had to deal with the cost of my vision health after losing my one-year worth of major vision benefits during this pandemic. read more

I'm from out of state. I fell and badly bent my glasses so I could not wear them. I called Evanston Eye Wellness. They accommodated my busy schedule, treated me like a longtime loyal customer, and repaired my glasses, to my great relief. Special kudos to Jay who was both talented and kind. Best customer service in my memory! read more

I had a cracked contact lense without any backups during my travel periods at Evanston. I called the office hoping I could purchase a replacement one for emergency one day use. But they refused me and would not help without a prescription. I was very disappointed and had to wear the broken contact lense with watery eyes and blurry eye sight for the whole day. What kind of doctor and optometry service is this?! read more

Poor continuation of care & rudeness from front desk workers. Doctor took time in the appointment but aftercare stopped at that. Difficult to get ahold of someone to schedule or communicate with dr. read more

A+ for delivering really good care as I had some injury issues in the last couple years that affected my vision.

Solid place for eye health. Staff is friendly, Dr LaBrosse is helpful, personable, patient, and does a great job, they're well-equipped, and the location is convenient. Nothing bad to say about them. read more

I took my son for a first vision checkup today and was so impressed with this place! Dr. LaBrosse and her staff were so friendly and kind, especially Justin who scheduled our appointment and welcomed us today, and they were amazing with my young son. The whole process was very easy start to finish, and I would highly recommend this very well-run local business!! read more

Beware. There is NO transparency with them. You'll get ambushed with bills AFTER the services, even though you tell them upfront that you don't want the service they are offering. There is no informed consent, it's just a "dr's orders" as staff usher you from one area to another. The dr then tells you after the fact that all those things you told her staff you didn't want, they did them anyway and now you owe them. They are bilking insurance and taking from you. Even for in-network, they charge the maximum for services you already said you didn't want and they did them anyway. And why do the staff walk around terrified? The turnover seems to hint that something is very wrong. read more

So my glasses are old. Like, old old. I haven't had an exam or change in quite a while. My last couple of experiences with eye exams haven't been wonderful. So lucky me I've got Evanston Eye Wellness a few mins away. My first visit was great. The clinic is welcoming. The staff is friendly and helpful. Dr. LaBrosse is knowledgeable, concise and caring. I got my prescription and great information with no hassle, no haggle. I walked away confident that my eyes were in good hands. Highly Recommended! read more

Horrible. I went to Evanston Eye Wellness after wasting about 2 years going to For Eyes (also in Evanston, also horrible). I was struggling with my contact lense prescription and needed to be re-fit with a fresh Rx. I also needed my glasses updated. The exam went fine. The glasses Rx was also fine (although I got frames elsewhere because the prices at EEW are absurd). Then we got to fitting me with contacts... I have a relatively typical astigmatism. For this reason, I have sometimes a difficult time getting just the right fit, but always do with a little patience. However, I did have a recent fitting that was working, just not strong enough and I was out of them. Long story short, I tried about 6 or 8 different pairs of lenses all in all. None of them were even near adequate. Also, some of the lenses Dr. L wanted me to try were not in stock on my first visit. This meant that (as she promised) I would get a call back when they came in so I could come in for another fitting. I never got a call. or a voicemail. Nothing. A couple weeks went by and I got tired of waiting and called them. They asked me to come in for another fitting. (thanks for the call?) This time, same thing. I tried a couple on, not so great, then Dr L says I'll need to come back for another fitting when they get a couple more in. THEY NEVER CALLED BACK! At this point I just gave up. I mean, who the hell has time for 3 separate visits to the eye doc for contact fittings, only to be brushed off and ignored. They never followed up as promised. Such a seemingly simple mistake that is a personal disqualifier. Perhaps working in the eye field is tough on the soul. The lady at the front desk seemed like she needed a class in customer service and the whole operation runs like a couple of kids in the Garage. If you are reading this, looking for a good local eye place in the area, keep going. This place is a huge disappointment. We'd be better off with a good Taco joint in that building instead. I ended up at Lumen Optical in Evanston (for anyone wondering where else to try). 2 short visits and I had everything I needed, pretty much hassle free. Also less expensive. You can easily find service that is light years better. Don't waste your time at Evanston Eye Wellness. There are simply much better options...period. read more

I've had excellent service here on multiple occasions. Couldn't recommend this place more.

Fast, efficient, and friendly services here. I appreciate that I am a client of a true professional who knows what she is doing and is friendly at the same time. I had an emergency one day and was very happy and grateful that Dr. LaBrosse made room in her busy schedule to see me. Thank you! read more

Dr. LaBrosse and her staff are the best! Excellent dry eye treamtent done by relaxing light therapy. I can wear contacts again without itching and dryness! Everyone there works to make your visit comfortable. I have been going for years and will continue to do so. Dr. LaBrosse even made herself available to see me for an early appointment when I had an emergency eye issue. She was also very kind in treating my elderly, disabled mother. Its obvious Dr. LaBrosse really cares about her patients and giving them the best care possible! read more

I had a great experience at Evanston Eye Wellness. The office is very pleasing to the eyes and Dr. Deana LaBrosse was excellent. She was very professional and had good "bedside manner". For example during the eye exam she said that one of the instruments would briefly touch my eye. When I mentioned my anxiety about anything touching my eye she was very sympathetic and pointed to her own glasses. I instantly felt more relaxed (which was exactly what I needed at the moment). She talked me through the results of my eye exam in a way that was simple and made sense. She asked some questions, answered my questions and then told me what kinds of glasses made sense based on my needs. She asked me if I was interested in purchasing glasses "today." There was no judgement or pressure when I said "no." I mention this only because I've been to eye places in the past which have pressured me to buy glasses and have lectured me (not informed me) about my eyes. My only complaint is that before I went back with Dr. LaBrosse, I was not told that parts of the exam she would perform were not covered services through BCBSIL's annual eye exam. I was surprised when the front desk staff told me that I owed them money for the eye exam. There was nothing that Dr. LaBrosse did that seemed to be unnecessary, so I'm sure I would have agreed to pay, but they should have been clear about the charges before the exam started. If I had been able to provide informed consent to the charges I would have given 5 stars. That said, I'm recommending Dr. LaBrosse to my wife and anyone else who needs a thoughtful eye care provider. read more

Excellent ophthalmologist and mostly friendly staff; smallish high end priced frame selection.

I followed Dr LaBrosse from her office at the notable Eye Spy in Chicago. I think she is a terrific eye doctor. I always get a 'little lesson' - not preachy - that helps me understand what is going on with my vision. She does not push any services on her patients, but she has the latest equipment available if you want a more in-depth exam. The selection of fashionable frames is so stunning, you would do well to stop in even if you're not in need of an eye exam. Sarah will make sure you walk out with the frames that are best for you. read more

I was way over due for an eye exam, and I was getting tired of having different pairs of glasses for up-close or distance, so time for multi-focal lenses! I picked up my glasses on the Weds. afternoon before Thanksgiving from Tyler at the front desk (everyone there is very pleasant and friendly, btw). He cleaned them off, I put them on, he asked if I knew how multi-focals worked, I said not entirely (this being my first pair), he explained the zones and when I asked about the blurry areas he said "follow your nose" and "your eyes will adjust". So away I went wearing my glasses and off I drove to my job, waiting for my eyes to adjust to this new and different (and not always clear) way of seeing. I got to work OK, but I couldn't wear them at work very long without getting dizzy and/or nauseous. I thought maybe the brochure inside the glasses case would provide some insight but it was only about the frame company. By the time I got a break to call, their office was closed. So when I got home from work I googled "feeling sick from my multi-focal glasses" and up came many links to interesting information and advice about how to adjust to wearing progressive lenses (and more than one source advised to NOT wear them at first for driving... oops). Given the cost of the lenses, I'm disappointed that I wasn't given this information; a simple handout would've been useful and much appreciated to a newbie like me. I'm still adjusting but every day is a little better. read more

James and the team at Evanston Eye Wellness for super helpful and friendly helping my husband and I fit our young son for glasses. He was very patient as our son tried on every pair, and when we had a small accident immediately upon leaving the store that scratched one of the lenses, James ordered a new lens without charging us, which we so appreciated! Lovely store with beautiful lenses and great service. Our family will be back! read more

We've been clients of Dr. LaBrosse for a few years : 2 of us for eye exams and glasses (frames + lenses) and 1 for glasses. Everything runs expensive and there is a fair amount of upselling. However, I believed it would be worth it - that it was reflected in quality: time, expertise, attention to detail, and customer service. These last few visits have been extremely disappointing. The staff has become increasingly rude - from audibly complaining about other customers to only offering help to certain individuals in the store. The final straw: this year's prescription changed. I was told to give it a try - assured it was correct and that it could take quite a while to adjust. So, I tried and tried... and got busy. Admittedly, I returned several months later to address it when I just could not get over the seasickness of the new pair. Come to find out, the lens that was bothering me no longer compensated for an astigmatism. However, since it was outside the 60 day window, there was nothing to be done but start over. ($400+ glasses that are useless). The vision care is lacking and the customer service - especially given the cost - is a disaster. This business does not stand behind their product or service. Beware, there are lots of excuses. There are other places who care more and deliver better value. We'll be finding one and going there moving forward. read more

The best service in town! Their COVID precautions put me at ease immediately when I needed a new eye checkup recently. I have purchased mine and my daughter's glasses here for the last four years. They sent me a thank-you note in the mail after my visit, which was a nice thoughtful touch. read more

I spent a lot of time and money on Dr.L's services. She'll issue an eye glass prescription but in my case, she could care less that they were made correctly. Her staff can't take accurate messages. For example, one of them said they spoke to Dr. L (and really didn't). As a result, I spent $500 on frames that were not the right size. Rather than take responsibility for her staff's mistakes, she blamed me and then directed me to seek services elsewhere. Buyer beware! Dr. L.'s customer service is sorely lacking! Sorry I wasted my time, insurance and money at Evanston Eye Wellness. Good luck if you go there! Dr. L responded to this review quicker than she ever responded to my email message. Her staff lied to me that Dr. L approved measures (that led me to purchase the frames) when she never even spoke to Dr. L. Rather than be accountable for her staff's unprofessional behavior, none of them apologized and then Dr. L asked me to go elsewhere. Why, Dr. L.? I deserved an apology and they deserved to be reprimanded. Her other staff member handed me my $500 frames back with markings all over them when I stated that I'd have to return them. Eye Spy might be more expensive but they value and respect their customers-definitely not my experience at Evanston Eye Wellness! read more

The service was excellent. I made an appointment online the night before I wanted to go in and I received a call from Sarah the next day letting me know if the spot was available. Due to the injury to my eye, they were able to get in me right away. I brought my son there for his yearly eye exam. Dr. LaBrosse was so kind and thorough that he was able to stay focused and finish the exam with no problems. She answered all my questions and gave excellent recommendations for allergy drops for my son as well as for his dry eye lid hygiene, and artificial tears and a nighttime artificial tear gel. The office is very welcoming and the staff treats you like family. I would and do recommend Evanston Eye Wellness to everyone. read more

Extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great location - new and gorgeous space. Lot's of frames to choose from if you're looking for new glasses. Dr LaBrosse is very profession and takes time to get to know you and explain everything she is doing and why. Hands down best appt I've had. read more

What started out as an unfortunate experience with a scheduling issue, turned into a great experience! I am very thankful I chose to come back to Evanston Eye Wellness for my eye exam and glasses. Dr. LaBrosse was great, explained everything she did, and even has a very holistic approach to what she does - which I love. Jackson was also super helpful in helping me pick out a pair of glasses! I will definitely be back, and would recommend her to anyone! read more

Had an appointment on Saturday... didn't want it... I'm in denial that I need vision help!!! Lol. Dr LaBrosse was friendly and to the point. Wasted no time in providing a thorough and informative exam. I hadn't had one in 30 yrs. She left me a choice and was not about making a sale which I liked. The exam was over and she then placed me in Jackson's capable care. He thoroughly went through my insurance coverage and help me select one pair of glasses for work and one pair for reading. Great all around experience. Should have my glasses in two weeks and looking forward to returning. Highly recommend. read more

I hadn't been to the optometrist is far too long and I knew I needed new glasses. Dr. LaBrosse & team are fantastic! You know you're in good hands here. Additionally, they have such a great selection of glasses to choose from- it's not a standard selection and they won't let you walk out in something that doesn't suit you. I love my new glasses. I choose to go here purely because people had highly recommended it and I totally agree. read more

I was so pleasantly surprised,after reading the reviews already posted. There were 2 negative. They couldn't be more wrong. She is so sweet. She is not a Sams Club or Walmart Doctor. She is very personable. I have a daughter that has autism. So patient and respectful toward her. I think she's a gem. Were others stuck there noses in the air and walk off,because my daughter communication skills are lacking. Those 2 women remind me of the snootie female elephants on the Disney Dumbo movie. read more

This is, hands down, the best eye clinic I have ever been to. My last visit to an optometrist/ophthalmologist's office was two years ago with another local office (I wont' point out which). I really hated the experience there so I had been pushing back for my next visit. My contact lenses were running out and I keep having allergy problems with my eyes so I finally took a chance and made an appointment with Evanston Eye Wellness, because of all the good reviews I've read here on Yelp. The appointment process is very simple. I went to their website and filled out a form to pick my appointment time. I made the appointment online on Thanksgiving day, for the Saturday after Thanksgiving (they open on Saturdays). The appointment was confirmed via email Saturday morning. The email was very informative. It tells me to bring my prescription glasses, old contact lenses package, contact lenses solution that I use, and eye drops that I use, or take a picture of them, so they can examine them for me. When I made it there 15 minutes before my appointment time, I filled out a form and give them my insurance cards. The receptionist is nice and the entire process took about 10 minutes. Then they brought me to the exam room and Dr. LaBrosse saw me right ON TIME. She is very patient and knowledgeable, and gave me a very through examination for both my vision and my allergy problem. In addition, she looked at all the products I brought with me and gave me suggestions on each one. I got a new pair of contact lenses for trial and she ordered another pair for me to try on for my next appointment. After the exam, I went out to pay for the service. As I have both health and vision insurance, I only have to pay for the co-payment of the exam and contact lenses fit charge. They didn't try to sell me anything that I do not need, and the entire process was fast, professional and painless. They also made an appointment for me next year to go back and get my annual eye exam again. I'll definitely go back if I still live in this area. Overall, I am very pleased with the experience, and would recommend this place for anyone. read more

Dr. LaBrosse and her staff are very professional. Very friendly and knowledgeable! They have a pretty good selection of glasses too

A fantastic place to get your eyes thoroughly checked and to pick up new specs!. I have been seeing Dr. LaBrosse for about five years, previously at Eye Spy in Chicago, and was excited to hear of her new location in Evanston. All six members of my family have been seeing her with terrific results! Easy to get to, easy to park, a beautiful state-of-the-art facility all packaged with, in my opinion, the best eye care possible. Go today! read more

This is THE PLACE for state of the art COMPLETE EYE CARE!!!! Dr. LaBrosse is obviously highly trained in the latest treatments for eye health. She truly cares and is relentless in getting to the bottom of vision problems. If you have been told there's "nothing we can do" by another eye doc, you must go here. She is very patient and explains to whatever extent you wish, any eyesight issues that are found during the thorough examination. You receive education on maintaining or achieving the health of your eyes. I have never felt rushed by her nor her staff. Everyone from Patricia who will assist you with getting the most from your vision benefits or Jackson who is my go to "frame stylist" (though he is there only on a very part-time basis) you will be in excellent hands. Did I mention what an extensive and fashionable line of frames they have in all price ranges??? You'll be helped to find the frame that not only fits your lenses but your face. THIS IS THE PLACE FOR EYE HEALTH! read more

You're better off getting your prescription and ordering from an online store or really anywhere else that does the standard refund in under 14 days if not satisfied policy. I spent over $300 on glasses that absolutely do not work and I have nothing to show for it. I sent the lenses back to see if that would help and it took a very long time for them to be returned. They still don't work and they refuse to give me a refund. The shop blames it on my insurance company, but I purchased the crazy expensive frames from them directly. I am on medicaid and do not have the money or time to go in circles with this absurdly overpriced shop. Incredibly frustrated and now the only solution is to take MORE time off work to spend another day waiting to be seen to talk about the same dysfunctional glasses. The staff is as polite as they could be while telling someone they refuse to give them their money back, but this is ridiculous. read more

I'm excited to have this new eye care office so close to home! The front of the office is cute, clean and welcoming, really current frame selection, easy parking, friendly staff. The exam room is calming, state of the art, professional but not intimidating. Dr. LaBrosse took the time to listen and help me with an issue over the phone and then fit me in same day when I needed further attention. She was thorough, careful, and clear with the explanation and instructions, and helped me navigate the insurance maze afterward. Over the years, I've been a patient at many different eye care centers in Evanston and am happy to say that this office feels the best. I know that I'll see the same doctor every time, get personal care and attention, and am in good hands. read more

I went in for an eye exam and had a very pleasant experience. From the moment I walked into the door, I felt welcomed! Honestly, I had kind of been dreading making an appointment because I knew I might need glasses. The doctor explained everything to me as she was performing the exam. It was thorough and she was very patient in answering every question I had. I would highly recommend. read more

A very pleasant experience! Evanston Eye Wellness has a beautiful, clean, comfortable office. Dr. Meln is friendly, knowledgeable and thorough. I highly recommend this office. read more